Portable baby-carrier



(No Model.)

A. W. WEBSTER. PORTABLE BABY CARRIER.

No. 544,074.v Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ALBERT W. WEBSTER, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

PORTABLE BABY-CARR! ER. I

SPECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent No. 544,074, dated August 6, 1895.

Application filed October 22, 1894. Serial No. 526,591. (No model.)

$0 a whom it concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT W. WEBSTER,

' of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Portable Baby-Carriers; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the same, and which saiddrawings constitute part of this specification, and repable mode of carriage for the child.

WVith these ends in view my invention consists in a baby-carrier having a chair-like body, comprising a flexible back and sides and a seat adapted to be closed in front, and

provided at the upper ends of its sides with handles.

My invention further consists in certain details of construction, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

As herein shown,,the chair-like body of my improved baby-carrier comprises a flexible back A, flexible sides B B, a reinforced seat C,

straps or tabsD and D, a flap E, handles F F, handle-bars F F, and handle-links F F and F F connectingthe handles and handle-bars.

By preference the back A, sides B B, and the straps or tabs D D are formed of some heavy fabric, such as coarse linen or canvas, but

they may be formed of any flexible material having the required strength. They may be made in one piece or in several pieces secured together.

The flap E, by preference, will form an extension of the sides B B, but if preferred it may be formed independently thereof, and,

furthermore, if desired, it may be dispensed with altogether.

As herein shown, the seat C is reinforced by a sheet C of some stiffening material, such as wood or paper, but that is not strictly necessary. When, however, it is reinforced, the seat will generally comprise two layers 0 of fabric, and preferably there will be a little stuffing 0 between the upper layer of fabric and the reinforce.

The handles located at the upper ends ofthe sides of the chair-like body may assume a variety of forms, but the form herein shown has been found to be very convenient. In the said form shown the upper edges of the sides B B are folded over the handle-bars F F and stitched down,while the handle-links F and F are applied to the opposite ends of the bars and to the opposite ends of the handles. By preference, also, the back A of the body is carried upward and attached to the handle links F giving additional height to the back, and hence increasing the comfort of the de vice for the child.

In the use of the device the child is placed in the chair-like body and securely buttoned in by means of the two tabs in front. Then the child is carried by two persons, who take hold of the two handles on opposite sides of the carrier, which swings with pleasing movement between the persons. The child is not only thus carried with safety but with comfort and pleasure to itself. This device has been found much more convenient in use than a baby-carriage, because a it can be used in many places where a baby-carriage will not go, and it has been found advantageous in hill climbing. Its portability, too, is an advantage, for when it is not in use it may, on account of its frameless character, befolded into small compass and carried in a bag or in a trunk. I may add that it is especially convenient in traveling, because it may be readily taken into and out of a railway-carriage, and because it avoids the portage of an ordinary baby-carriage.

It is apparent that in details of construe-- tion my improved carrier may be widely varied without departing from my invention, and I would, therefore, have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Iam aware, however, that seats made partly of flexible material and adapted to be attached to bicycles for the carriage of infants are old.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A frameless, portable baby-carrier, comprising a flexible back, two flexible sides, and a seat with which the said sides and back have flexible connection, provided at the upper ends of its sides with handles, furnished at the forward ends of its sides with means for securing the child in place, and having at the forward edge of its seat a depending flap,

substantially as set forth, and whereby the carrier may be folded into compact form when not in use, on account of its frameless character.

2. A frameless, portable baby-carrier consisting of a chair-like body having a flexible back, flexible sides and a seat, handle bars secured to the upper ends of the said sides, handle links secured to the ends of the said bars, and handles secured to the upper ends of the said links, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT \V. WEBSTER.

\Vitnesses:

ELMER E. HORTON, FRED J. MYERS. 

